Influence

Women of Influence (WOI) members believe in the transformational power of education.  Our influence is greater collectively than it is individually. We will work collaboratively to utilize each member’s strengths, providing the University of North Alabama students, faculty and staff with opportunities and experiences they need to grow, thrive, and succeed. WOI will be intentional with our program support, evaluating all opportunities to provide the most impact. We will give voice to the unheard and influence positive change in support of the educational mission of the University of North Alabama.

 

FISCAL YEAR 2024

First Lady Initiatives

50/50

This campaign directly impacts the lives of UNA's female student-athletes. This fund provides resources that will continue to shape the trajectory of our eight women's athletic programs and assist them as they continue to grow and evolve.

CARING FOR THE PRIDE

Caring for the Pride is emergency financial assistance available to students, faculty, and staff to assist with one-time unexpected needs.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ROOM FUELING STATION

The Women's Basketball Team Room Fueling Station provides our female student-athletes the opportunity to refuel their bodies with healthy drinks, snacks, and supplements.

ACONHP Disaster Simulation

The ACONHP Disaster Simulation project provides first and fourth-level nursing students experiential learning opportunities in triage and emergency situations. The ACONHP Disaster Simulation involves community health and leadership nursing students as well as local police, fire, EMS, EMA, and ADPH agencies.

Inside-out Prison Exchange Program Travel

The departments of English; Psychology and Sociology; and Politics, Justice, Law and Philosophy offer interdisciplinary coursework in Restorative Justice at the Limestone
Correctional Facility. This fund helps to offset the cost of travel for students who participate in the program.

Increasing Access to Stem Education: A Summer Camp for High School Students

The three-day, two-night residential summer STEM Camp at the University of North Alabama is designed for high school students. It promotes scientific inquiry and the application of mathematics and technology in the context of experimental design, problem solving, technical briefing, and report writing to an underserved population.

Shoals Designer Showcase

Shoals Designer Showcase is a prestigious and sophisticated student-led fashion show that brings awareness of the fashion industry in the Shoals. Produced and led entirely by UNA
Fashion Show Production students, this experiential learning opportunity offers a hands-on experience of each aspect of planning and implementation.

Project Impact

Project IMPACT (Improving Access, Care, and Treatment in the Rural South) is designed to increase the number of nurse practitioner students who are training for practice in rural
and/or underserved areas, increase diversity in the healthcare workforce, and build and support existing experiential learning opportunity partnerships in rural and/or underserved
areas.

Roar for Wellness: Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) Nutrition Program

The Roar for Wellness (RFW) program at the University of North Alabama supports UNA’s mission of engaging, supporting, educating, and servicing the University by championing diverse and holistic programs that support a healthy lifestyle while promoting quality of life. The RFW program provides incentives, challenges, and resources to UNA faculty and staff to achieve health and wellness goals

Meal Plan Scholarships

Meal plans can be a barrier for incoming students transitioning from high school or community college to UNA. This fund helps offer meal plan scholarships to incoming students.

Leo's Feel Good Fest

Leo’s Feel Good Fest increases community awareness, education, and access to resources to improve mental and physical health. The event is an innovative way to encourage community wellness and promote inclusion among UNA’s diverse campus and the Shoals community.

Cole Honors College Global Education Fund

The Cole Honors College Global Education Fund provides funding for Cole Honors College students to obtain passports. Passports enable and equip students to participate in education abroad programs and open the door for them to travel for subsequent work and travel abroad opportunities post-graduation.

Paw Prints: Preparing to Find Your Roar

Paw Prints: Preparing to Find Your Roar is available for 10 rising high school seniors, each with one or more identities from an underrepresented group. These young women will attend a three-day/two-night, summer-bridge, immersive experience on the UNA campus. During the weekend, they will interact with faculty, staff, and student leaders, and will be introduced to academic resources, leadership activities, and experiential learning opportunities.

Supporting Female Special Educators

The Very Special Arts Festival is a motivational field experience, engaging UNA teacher education students with local school district special educators and students with special needs. The Very Special Arts Festival provides UNA teacher education students with a means to develop fun, inclusive activities using accessible materials, adaptive equipment, and creative supports to engage students with disabilities.

FISCAL YEAR 2023

Kilby Laboratory School

The Kilby Safety Improvement Project focuses on providing physical enhancements and education for the faculty and staff on ways to improve the current status of the safety infrastructure at Kilby. We will seek resources to make the physical building even more secure. We will also provide educational opportunities and training for the faculty and staff to ensure they are utilizing best practices for a safe and nurturing learning environment at Kilby.

The $50 for 50 Campaign

This campaign directly impacts the lives of our female student-athletes. This fund provides resources that will continue to shape the trajectory of our eight Women’s programs and assist them as they continue to grow and evolve.

Children's Respite Program

Local families are given the opportunity to bring their child with special needs and their siblings to monthly Respite Program events. The program provides an evening of food, fun and engaging social activities for these families.

Tiny Cubs Community Baby Shower

This project contributes to the continuation of a baby shower event and siblings Bootcamp aimed at low-income mothers, new expecting parents, and soon-to-be siblings. The aim of this event is to increase awareness and prevention of infant mortality rates in the state of Alabama while also providing senior-level student nurses with an opportunity to lead in public health promotion. 

Poverty Simulation: An Immersive Experience

This simulation allowed students to assume the role of 26 different families that are facing poverty.  Examples included ones that are homeless, unemployed, single-parent homes, families receiving temporary assistance, retired families living on a limited income, and families where grandparents are raising grandchildren.  The goals for the students were to keep their homes secure, feed their families, keep their utilities on, make loan payments, pay for expenses, and meet any unexpected needs that might arise.  In addition to this, the students are expected to report to work, get children to school, and provide child care as needed.  This experience is eye-opening for not only the students but for the faculty and community volunteers that are involved.

MUNCH: Making UNforgettable Children Less Hungry

The purpose of MUNCH is to provide food bags each week to children who are in need of nourishment over the weekend. The children receiving these bags are identified by the respective school counselors but are not shared with the organization.  These bags are packed with a variety of breakfast, lunch, and snack items that are kid friendly.

FISCAL YEAR 2022

Stock the Classroom: A First-Year Teacher Initiative

UNA’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) remains one of the most established, premier preparatory programs for future educators in Alabama. Upon their final semester at UNA, TEP students work full-time as unpaid student-teacher interns, gaining valuable experience and enriching school systems in the process. Twenty students participating in the program will receive $250 for classroom supplies.

International Women's Day Celebration

Women in Business is a new Registered Student Organization that officially got off the ground in fall 2020. Its purpose is to support the advancement of women through mentorship and community. WIB provides mentorship through engagement with faculty and community leaders; hosts skill-building workshops; and focuses on empowerment and education in terms of relevant issues facing today’s women. International Women’s Day is March 8, 2022, and marks a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In honor of this and the Year of the UNA Woman, Women in Business will host a week-long celebration of events.

First-Generation Student Mentoring Program

Approximately 25 percent of UNA students are the first in their immediate families to attend college. However, in the absence of programming focused solely on their needs other than an affinity group that was started last year, it was time to do more. The First-Generation Student Mentoring Program has 21 students enrolled and matched with faculty, staff, and alumni mentors for the 2021-2022 academic year. Each participant who completes the program will be awarded a $100 book scholarship.

The Lion, The Pitch, and the Wardrobe

With limited space in the Career Center for the former clothing closet, some UNA students find it difficult to dress for success for interviews and job fairs. While virtual interviews are becoming the norm, formal in-person meetings require students to look professional in order to make a strong first impression. Each selected student will be provided with a maximum of $250 to be applied toward the purchase of professional attire for interviews.